- Be a citizen of the United States at least one month before the election;- Be a resident of Pennsylvania and your election district at least 30 days before the election;- Be 18 years of age on or before the day of election.

To register to vote, you can apply in person Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Room 609 of the County Office Building at 542 Forbes Ave. in downtown Pittsburgh.

(Directions for voter registration are similar for residents of other counties. Check with your local county office or go to VotesPA.com for details.)

Registration-by-mail forms may also be used to register or to change name, address or party affiliation. These forms are available at Armed Service Recruitment Centers, Area Agencies on Aging and many post offices and state, county or municipal offices. The forms must be postmarked by Oct. 5.

Once the form is completed and returned to the Elections Division, approved applicants will receive a certificate of voter registration that shows their municipality, voting ward and/or election district and assigned polling place.

Voter registration forms may also be obtained by visiting the Pennsylvania Department of State's voting information website at votesPA.com.

Allegheny County residents who have questions or would like to verify their registration status should go to www.alleghenycounty.us/elect/ or call the Elections Division at 412-350-4510.